Kay’s Ice Cream - Maryville, TN
I had seen on Les Jones’ blog that Kay’s in Maryville had closed. On our way to the mountain cabin on Thanksgiving, we drove by to take a look.
Notice the letters on the front door.
Looks like mint chocolate chip to me. I have searched far and wide for an image of the large Kay’s sign with the ice cream cone and the boy on the ladder with the extra long tongue licking it to no avail. The last one I knew of was on Chapman Highway and it dissappeared around the turn of the century.
It brought out some fans. Here on the door is a long letter telling about this family’s long history with Kay’s. I ate there a few times myself over the years.
7 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
This is truly depressing news…I grew up walking to Kays from my friends house everyday in the summer to get a burger with the quarters we find layin around the house. Maryville is truly dying off…
Comment left on November 29, 2006 @ 8:01 am
Dammit, ya know, I was sitting here thinking about driving to Maryville and eating at Kay’s … then I see this?
I guess I’ll go to Ali Baba’s and get a “Vol-burger-Fry-eat-here” instead…
Comment left on November 30, 2006 @ 12:19 pm
There’s still a Kays Ice Cream. On Chapman Highway in the Colonial Village section of South Knoxville. It’s the last one left.
Comment left on February 19, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
Actually, I think there are a couple in the Tri-Cities area. I say that, but it has been a couple of years since I was there. The Halls location closed not too long ago. The one on Clinton Highway was the last to have the large ice cream cone sign with the boy on the ladder licking it.
Comment left on February 19, 2007 @ 2:53 pm
I always loved Kays Ice cream and there delious hotdogs,whe I worked in Knoxville in the 60’s and 70’s that is where I would eat,I moved to Cleveland,Tn and they had Kays Kastle but served the same menu as kays at Knoxville,I am still looking for Kays Ice Cream at the Supermarkets but none to be found,Does anyone know if they still make Ice cream theres and Mayfieleds are the only ones fit to eat.
Comment left on October 31, 2007 @ 9:22 pm
I remember going to the Kay’s in Crossville when I was a kid.
There was wallpaper in the joint that was nothing but dots-maybe 2 inches in diameter. They held a contest once to see who could guess how many dots were on the wall. Apparently someone at one time had to count in order to have a contest. Also, one year, Santa parachuted from an airplane and had ice cream coupons from Kay’s.
I never went to the Maryville Kay’s, but when I move back to Knoxville in December, I plan on going to the Chapman Hwy. Kay’s again to support the business and childhood memories.
Comment left on November 13, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
I’m told their ice cream is still available at one of the grocery stores. Food City maybe? This Kay’s is nearly ready to open again as of this last weekend. I has been renovated and will be an ice cream place again. It looks nice and they kept the ice cream cone sign.
Comment left on November 13, 2007 @ 7:56 pm